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5 July 2019

In Pictures: Kew Gardens, then and now

2019 marks the 260th anniversary of Kew Gardens. We take a look at some then-and-now photos to see how much the Gardens have changed.

By
Katie Avis-Riordan
and Ellen McHale

Kew Palace

Formerly known as the Dutch House, Kew Palace is the oldest building in the Gardens. Constructed in 1631 for a wealthy Flemish merchant, Samuel Fortrey, the ornate property was rented by Queen Caroline around a century later.

Subsequently bought by King George III, the palace was used as a country retreat by the royal family up until 1898.

This old black and white photo from our archives was taken sometime between 1898 and 1910. Things look a little different here today with a new path, trees and none of the Edwardian fashion.

Japanese Gateway

Spot the difference! Our original Japanese Gateway was gifted to Kew in 1910 after its inclusion in the Japan-British Exhibition in London.

Fast forward 109 years and the ‘Chokushi-Mon’, or ‘Gateway of the Imperial Messenger’ almost looks untouched. This replica of the Karamon Gate of the Nishi Hongan-ji Temple in Kyoto was restored in 1994, using a mix of traditional Japanese skills and modern innovative techniques.